Ice making machines



Jan. 5, 1960 e. M. LEES ICE MAKING MACHINES 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug.1, 1956 fwnzorx fierald 6%. [6 6 aulo me 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 G. M. LEES ICEMAKING MACHINES fivnzor, Eerala? lees M M Auw/ FBJ Jan. 5, 19 0 FiledAug. 1, 1956 United States Patent ICE MAKING MACHINES Gerald M. Lees,Chicago, Ill.

Application August 1, 1956, Serial No. 601,413

12 Claims. (Cl. 62- 71) My invention relates to an ice making machine.While ice making machines for large consumers of. ice such as packingplants and the like have been rather thoroughly refined, the problem ofproviding a machine for the small user of ice, such as soda fountains,drugstores, grocery stores, etc., has. not been given the attentiondevoted to .the larger machines. My invention is directed to an icemaking machine for the relatively small ice user which is simply andinexpensively constructed, automatic in operation, and as near foolproofas possible by virtue of the simplicity and sturdiness of theconstruction thereofj Another major advantage of my invention is that itwill accommodate, without manufacturing complication, varying demandsfor ice, since it involves basically a simple, small, freezing unitwhich may be multiplied as desired to deliver varying amounts of icewhile at the same time not expanding significantly the space required bysuchmachine.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent from thefollowing description and drawings, of which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a bank of the freezing unit forming a partof my invention, assembled together for ice production;

Fig. 2 is a section through one of the freezing units illustrated inFig. 1, taken along the line 22 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction ofthe arrows;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, showing, however, the method ofseparating ice from the freezing surface and discharging it from themachine; and

Fig. 4 is a schematic view of a machine incorporating my invention withsome parts shown in section, some in perspective, and somediagrammatically.

Considering first Fig. 4 the unit freezer of my invention is composed ofa pair of narrowly spaced, parallel, thin, rectangular evaporator shells12. The shells are adapted to have refrigerant circulate through theinterior thereof and have refrigerant inlet ports 14 adjacent the bottomedges thereof and refrigerant outlet ports 16 at the top. The inlet andoutlet ports are connected respectively to a refrigerant supply line 18and a refrigerant return line 20 by ducts 22. The mechanism forabstracting heat from the refrigerant is entirely conventional and hasnot been illustrated except for the supply and exhaust lines 18 and 2t)and the liquid refrigerant receiver 62.

As stated, each freezing unit is comprised of two of the evaporatorshells 10 parallel to each other and spaced narrowly apart. Theevaporator shells are supported and fixed in the spaced parallelrelation by end plates 3i which lie against the ends of the shells andare secured thereto. The shells and the end plates define a narrow,,deep and wide slot extending between the shells.

The slots are converted into a water-holding receptacle by a pentagonalframe 32. The bottom 34 of the frame and the two sides 36 thereof arerectangular with respect to each other and constitute the bottom and end;walls of thereceptacle. The upper side is comprised of two equalsegments 38 at an obtuse angle to each other and to the side members 36.It will be noted that the side members 36 are long enough to space thetop members above the expected water or ice level 39 a distance equal toor slightly greater than the width of the bot tom member 34. The bottomedge of the bottom frame member 34 has a bracket 40 formed centrallythereon, to which is secured the outer end 42 of the shaft 44 of adouble acting pneumatic cylinder 46.

In the illustrated embodiment, I employ gas pressure differentialsinherent in a refrigerating system to operate the cylinder. The pressureof the gas over the liquified refrigerant in the reservoir 62 issubstantially greater than that in the spent refrigerant return line 20.The upper 48 and lower 50 ends of the pneumatic cylinder arerespectively connected by ducts 52 and 54 to the fourway flow reversingvalve 56. The reversing valve is likewise connected by duct 58 to therefrigerant receiver 62 so as to draw gaseous refrigerant therefromunder pressure and by duct 60' to the exhaust line 20. Since such valvesare well known in the art, detailed description is believed unnecessary.The valve rod 64 is operated in each direction by solenoids 66 and 68.Operation of the solenoid 66 serves to apply the refrigerant pressure inthe receiver 62 to the lower end of the pneumatic cylinder 46 to extendthe shaft 44 thereof, the valve 56 simultaneously permitting a return ofthe gaseous refrigerant in the upper end of the cylinder 46 to therefrigerant return line. Operation of the solenoid 68 reverses thesituation, applying refrigerant pressure to the upper end of thecylinder 46 to retract the rod 44 and exhausting the lower end of thecylinder to the refrigerant return line.

Water is delivered into the freezing chamber defined by the frame 32 andthe shells 12 from a duct 70 con nected to a source of water supply. Theduct 70 has a solenoid-operated normally closed valve 72 therein or openwhen energized. The duct 70 leads into a tank 74 and has a floatoperated shut-off valve 76 thereon within the tank 74. A duct 78 leadsfrom a lower portion of the tank 74 and has an open end 80 situated todeliver water into the freezing chamber. normally open solenoid-operatedvalve 82 therein which is closed when energized. The float valve 76 isadjusted to shut off the flow of water through duct 70 into the tank 74when the discharge from the tank to duct 78 will be just sufiicient tofill the freezing chamber.

My ice machine is electrically controlled and operates through a timedcycle. I provide a program timer here illustrated as a cam 84 driven atconstant speed together with a cam follower 86 which operates to openand close a switch 88. The circuit runs from a source of power 90through switch 88 to a terminal 92. A conductor 94 extends from terminal92 to energize the solenoids of the valves 72 and 82 in parallel. Aconductor 96 is connected to the other side of the solenoids of thesevalves and returns to a terminal 98 which in turn is connected to theother side 100 of the power line. Another conductor 102 is connected toterminal 92 and leads to a single pole double throw switch 104. Theshaft 44 of the pneumatic cylinder 46 has a pair of spaced switchoperating studs 106 and 10S thereon, and the switch element 110 of theswitch 104 has an extension 112 interposed in the path of the operatingstuds 166 and 108. The switch element 110 is moved into contact withcontact 114 when the shaft 44 reaches its maximum extension and is movedinto contact with contact 116 when the shaft 44 is fully retracted. Theswitch element 116 should be equipped with a permanent magnet hold orsome similar device to keep it in contact with either of the contacts114 or 116 during the travel of the shaft 44,

The duct 78 has a Contact 114 is connected by conductor 118 to oneterminal of solenoid 66. Contact 116 is connected by conductor 120 toone terminal of solenoid 68. The other terminals of the two solenoidsare connected to conductor 120 which leads to terminal 98 connected toground 100.

As illustrated, the machine is in that stage of the cycle where ice isbeing formed. Since the cam follower 86 is on the low surface on theprogram timer 84, switch 88 is open and no circuits are energized. Thenormally open switch 72 governing the flow of water into the tank 74 isclosed. Normally closed switch 82 is open, and water has drained fromtank 74 to fill the chamber. The position of the frame 32 relative tothe evaporator shells 12 is shown in Fig. 2. Illustratively, Icontemplate a programming of the cycle such that the freezing operationmay take, for instance, one minute and the separation of the formed icefrom the freezing chamber take on the order of fifteen seconds. Theprogram timer cam 84, therefore, will make a complete revolution in oneminute fifteen seconds, during one minute of which the cam follower ison the low part of the cam and switch 88 is open.

When the program timer progresses to the point where the higher part ofthe cam moves the cam follower to close switch 88, current flows throughswitch 88 to terminal 92, through conductor 102 and to the switchingelement 119 making contact with contact 114. Solenoid 66 is thusenergized through conductor 118 and operates to move the valve rod 64 tothe left, thereupon directing gaseous refrigerant under pressure intothe upper end of the pneumatic cylinder 48 and opening the lower end ofthe cylinder to exhaust line 60 leading to the refrigerant return line20. The cylinder rod 44 is thus retracted and draws the frame downwardlyrelative to the evaporator shells 12.

The position of the parts in the freezing chamber during freezing andjust before the start of the ice removing cycle is shown in Fig. 2.Initially, the frame must be drawn downwardly to withdraw the bottomframe member from between the freezing surfaces since the broken icedischarges downwardly from the freezing surfaces. It is to permit thisinitial clearance of the bottom edge 34 of the frame that the top edge38 is spaced above ice level 34. At first the ice sheet will remainfirmly between the facing surfaces of the evaporator shells. Asretraction of the frame continues, however, the upper inclined sides 38thereof bear first on the outside edges of the ice sheet and commence aprogressive breaking away of the sheet working from the outside edgestoward the center as the point of contact between the upper framemembers 38 and the ice sheet moves toward the center as sirablefragmentation of the ice sheet.

When the shaft 44 of the cylinder 46 moves downward to the point whereswitch actuating stud 108 operated switch element 112 to remove it fromcontact with contact 14 and place it in contact with contact 116,solenoid 66 is de-energized and solenoid 68 is energized, so moving thevalve shaft 64 to the right or to its illustrated position. In suchposition the lower end of the pneumatic cylinder 46 is opened torefrigerant under pressure and the upper end is opened to therefrigerant return line. The rod 44 is thus powered to move outwardlyand restore the frame to its illustrated water-retaining positionbetween the evaporator shells 12. The rate of travel of the piston rodshould be such as to complete a cycle of movement in fifteen seconds orslightly more. The up per edge of the bottom frame member should atleast arrive in water-retaining position with respect to the evaporatorsbefore the timer breaks the circuit. Thereafter, pneumatic pressure willcontinue its travel to terminal position. It must not, however,'reachterminal position before the circuits are broken and start downwardagain, lest there be a progressively downward positioning of the framewith each cycle. Of course, other circuit devices may be used to holdthe frame in freezing position should the rate of cycling be difficultto adjust.

The closure of switch elements 88 by the cam follower 86 likewiseresults in an energization of the solenoidoperated valves 72 and 82. Theenergization of valve 82 results in a closing thereof and theenergization of valve 72 results in its opening. Water is thus admittedthrough line 70 into tank 74 until the flow of water is shut off by thefloat valve 76 when the tank contains enough water to charge fully thecontainer defined by the frame 32 within the evaporator shells 12. Thetiming of this filling, must, of course, be fifteen seconds or less.

As the program timer 84 continues to revolve so that the raised portionthereof passes beyond cam follower 86, the switch 88 is opened,de-energiziug both circuits. The pneumatic cylinder 46 and its shaft andpiston will remain in their illustrated position. Valve 82 willthereupon open and permit a draining of the tank 74 into the containerdefined by the frame 32 between the evaporator shells 12. Simultaneouslyvalve 72 will close to prevent any refilling of the tank with more wateruntil the fifteensecond portion of the cycle occurs again. Theevaporator shells will of course be continuously cold.

Fig. 1 illustrates the fashion in which a plurality of the unitsdescribed may be assembled together to increase the capacity of the icemachine. A unit is shown having four freezing chambers. Illustrated arethe four frames 122 which define the freezing chambers. There will befive evaporator shells 124, 126, only one surface of the outsideevaporator shells 126 being employed for freezing purposes. The framesare connected by means of shafts 128 to a bank of pneumatic cylinders130. The evaporator shells 124, 126 are held in position and tiedtogether by means of the end plates 132. It will be noted that the bankof freezing chambers is inclined at an angle to the vertical. The ice isseparated from the freezing surfaces and drawn downwardly through thebottom thereof. The inclination of the freezing chambers, shafts 128 andpneumatic cylinders 130 permits the ice to fall freely without lodgingon the bank of cylinders 130.

In a banked structure such as illustrated in Fig. 1, each of thefreezing chambers may have an individual source of water supply like thetank 74 or a single tank may be used. There are well known methods fordistributing equal amounts of liquid from a single reservoir intovessels of various elevation.

It will be appreciated that I have described here merely an embodimentof my invention and that many alternatives both as to structure andoperation are readily conceivable. For instance, cranking means,sprocket chains or hydraulic means may be used to move the framerelative to the evaporator shells to dislodge the formed ice therewithinand to restore the frame to its container defining position.

Likewise, although I have illustrated the pneumatic cylinders as beingconnected to the bottom of the frames, it will be evident that they mayas well be connected to the top apices of the frames defined by thepoint of juncture between the two members 38. The cylinder will ofcourse be situated above the frame and there will be nothing to impedethe free fall of ice from the frames. In such case, the angulardisposition of a banked set of frames as illustrated in Fig. 1 will notbe necessary. It will be noted that the frames will be amply guided forproper movement by the side plates 30.

Other alternatives will readily suggest themselves and I, therefore,desire that my invention be regarded as being limited only as set forthin the following claims.

I claim:

1. A method of making ice which comprises delivering a predeterminedamount of water between two spaced freezing surfaces and withinretaining means between said surfaces, retaining said water between saidsurfaces until said water is frozen to form an ice sheet, withdrawingthe retaining means from water-retaining association with said surfacesand moving a surface inclined with respect to an edge of said ice sheetagainst said edge of said ice sheet to dislodge said ice sheetprogressively from said surfaces in fragments.

.2, A method of making ice which comprises delivering a predeterminedamount of water between two spaced freezing surfaces and withinretaining means between said surfaces, retaining said water between saidsurfaces until i said Water is frozen to form an ice sheet on saidfreezing surfaces, withdrawing the retaining means from waterretainingassociation with said surfaces and applying pressure progressively onone edge of said ice sheet formed between said surfaces from the ends ofsaid edge uniformly toward the center of said edge to dislodge said icesheet progressively from said surfaces in fragments.

3. A method of making ice which comprises delivering a predeterminedamount of water between two spaced freezing surfaces and withinretaining means between said surfaces, retaining said water between saidsurfaces until said water is frozen to form an ice sheet on saidfreezing surfaces, withdrawing the retaining means from waterretainingassociation with said surfaces and applying pressure progressively onthe top edge of said ice sheet formed between said surfaces from theends of said edge uniformly toward the center of said edge to dislodgesaid ice sheet progressively from said surfaces in fragments.

4. A method of making ice which comprises delivering a predeterminedamount of water between two spaced freezing surfaces and withinretaining means between said surfaces, retaining said water between saidsurfaces until said water is frozen to form an ice sheet, withdrawingthe retaining means from water-retaining association with said surfacesand applying pressure against a progressively longitudinally migratingpoint on one edge of said ice sheet progressively to dislodge said ice'sheet from said surfaces in fragments.

5. An ice making machine comprising a pair of spaced freezing surfaces,means for delivering water between said surfaces, means for retainingsaid water between said surfaces, means for removing said retainingmeans from water-retaining relation with said surfaces when said wateris frozen, and means comprising an angularly disposed top member on saidretaining means for applying 1ongi tudinally progressive pressureagainst one edge of the ice sheet formed between said surfaces todislodge said ice in fragments from said surfaces.

6. An ice machine comprising a pair of parallel spaced freezingsurfaces, a pentagonal frame situated between said surfaces to definewith said surfaces a water-holding chamber defined on the sides by saidsurfaces and on the ends and bottom by said frame, said frame having asymmetrical angled upper side above said water chamber, means for movingsaid frame to draw said upper side wholly into the area of said waterchamber and said bottom out of water-holding relation with saidsurfaces, and means for delivering a measured amount of water into saidwater chamber.

7. An ice making machine comprising a pair of spaced freezing surfaces,means for delivering water between said surfaces, an open frame movablewithin and between said surfaces to hold water between said surfaces inone position and to dislodge and discharge ice formed be tween andfrozen to said surfaces in movement to another position, the top memberof said frame being so disposed angularly relative to a side member ofsaid frame as to apply longitudinally progressive pressure against oneedge of said ice to fragmentize said ice during the ice dislodgingmovement of said frame, and means to move said frame between saidpositions.

8. An ice making machine compriisng a pair of evaporator shells eachhaving a freezing surface parallel to and spaced from each other,refrigerating mechanism for circulating liquid refrigerant to saidevaporator shells anti withdrawing spent refrigerant therefrom, an openframe contained between said surfaces for vertical movement between aposition of containing water between said surfaces and a positionwherein ice is dislodged from be tween said surfaces, a pneumaticcylinder having a rod connected to said frame to move said frame betweensaid positions, a four-way solenoid-operated valve connecting, in oneposition, one end of said cylinder to the refrigerant supply and theother end of said cylinder to the spent refrigerant return andalternatively said one end to said spent refrigerant return and saidother end to said refrigerant supply, a water suply line, a normallyclosed valve in said line, a tank receiving water from said supply line,means associated with said supply line in said tank to limit the fillingof said tank to a predetermined level, a duct extending from said tankto discharge between said surfaces of said evaporator shells, a normallyopen valve in said duct, a source of electric power, circuit meansconnected to said source of power to energize said normally open valveand said normally closed valve and said four-way valve, timer means insaid circuit including a switch for periodically energizing saidcircuits and periodically breaking said circuits, and switch meansactuated in response to the movement of said frame to reverse saidfour-way valve to move said frame from its water receptacle definingposition to its ice removing position and again to reverse said valve torestore said frame to said water receptacle defining position.

9. An ice machine comprising a plurality of thin rectangular evaporatorshells, guide plates secured to opposite ends of said shells to supportsaid shells in spaced parallel relation, means for delivering liquidrefrigerant to said shells and returning spent refrigerant therefrom, anopen frame contained between each pair of facing surfaces of saidshells, said frame being movable relative to said shells between aposition defining with said surfaces a water-containing chamber and aposition in movement to which ice is removed from said chambers, saidframes being guided by said guide plates in said movement, means forcausing said relative movement between said shells and said frames andmeans for delivering a measured amount of water into each of saidwatercontaining chambers.

10. An ice making machine comprising a pair of spaced evaporator shellshaving facing freezing surfaces, a refrigerating system including a zoneof refrigerant at relatively high pressure and a zone of refrigerant atrela-' tively low pressure, means connecting said evaporator shells tosaid refrigerating system, means for delivering water between saidsurfaces, a frame movable within and between said surfaces to retainwater between said surfaces in a first position, and to dislodge iceformed between said surfaces in movement to a second position, a doubleacting, pneumatic cylinder having a rod connected to said frame, andmeans alternatively connecting one end of said cylinder to said zone ofrelatively high pressure and the other end to said zone of relativelylow pressure to move said frame from said first position to said secondposition, and connecting said one end of said cylinder to said zone ofrelatively low pressure and said other end to said zone of relativelyhigh pressure to move said frame back to said first position.

11. An ice machine comprising a pair of spaced freezing surfaces, meansfor delivering water between said surfaces, an open frame movable withinand between said surfaces to retain water between said surfaces in oneposition, the top side of said frame being above said surfaces in saidposition and to dislodge ice formed between said surfaces in movement toanother position, the bottorn side of said frame being below saidsurfaces in said other position and means for moving said frame betweensaid positions.

12. An ice making machine comprising a pair of spaced freezing surfaces,means for delivering water between said surfaces, an open frame movablewithin and between said surfaces to retain water between said surfacesin one position and to dislodge and discharge ice formed between andfrozen to said surfaces in movement to another position and means tomove said frame cyclically between said positions, said frame having atop portion so disposed relative to the sides of said frame as tofragmentize said ice in the dislodging movement.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTSMarchaut Aug. 9, 1932 Van Vleck Apr. 12, 1949 Van Vleck Sept. 19, 1950Pownall Jan. 2, 1951 Ploeger Sept. 30, 1952 Sampson Aug. 7, 1956 RoedterNov. 13, 1956

